Latest Contributions by AdamCarnow

Interesting article on the number 1 skill in the AI era, and it's not #AI. It is #storytelling. And #GIS and #StoryMaps are key skills to have to enable effective storytelling... https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/08/scott-galloway-this-is-the-no-1-skill-young-people-need-it-isnt-ai.html   ... View more

Yes, the GIS Manager's Summit will be on Sunday, July 14th, 9AM-3:30PM. More info will be released as the event approaches. You can monitor this page: https://www.esri.com/en-us/about/events/uc/agenda/related-events   ... View more

Thanks for the shout out! Great to see so many active contributors to the Community. Let's see these lists grow in 2024! ... View more

Great questions and great advice from Logan, below. There are lots of options other than a graduate degree. Here is my opinion/take. For context, I have a BA in Geography and a MA in Urban & Regional Planning. Like Logan I would not change my academic and career journey. Looking at your questions, I would ask you a few more like, what kind of position/career do you want? Do you want to be a GIS Manager? Do you want to be a planner? Do you want to stay technical with GIS? Do you want to be in the GIS industry, or use GIS as a tool in another industry? Depending on the answers to those questions will help decide on another degree. When I graduated with my BA in Geography, my job options were limited because I did not have any GIS experience and I was interested in GIS as a career. I got my MA in Planning because the Planning Department at my alma mater had the best GIS lab and curriculum at the school. Plus, planning is closely related to geography and I thought if the GIS thing didn't work out, I could get a job as a planner. I have worked as a planner, but most of my career has been in GIS, but it didn't take me long to drop the technical work and move into management which was a great move for me. My advice would be as follows: If you want to stay technical with GIS than a MS in GIS would probably be a good idea, but I would defer to someone who has gone that route. If you want a career in another related field where you use GIS as a tool, then planning is a good option. If you want to be a GIS Manager, I would not recommend a MS in GIS, I would recommend something like a MBA, MPA (if you want to work in the public sector), or a MS in CIS (Computer Info Systems, the business side of IT). Another option is that there are a graduate GIS programs that focus on GIS management/administration rather than the tech, I know that Univ. of West FL is one. One note to consider is that even if you want to stay technical in GIS, instead of a MS in GIS, you may want to explore a MS in IT as it would provide more flexibility and open up other opportunities. Also, one thing I know for sure is that the most valued skills in the job market are not the technical ones, they are what most people refer to as "soft skills". I think that term does a disservice and I think that they should be rebranded as "essential skills" (other terms are professional or leadership skills). Whatever path you take, make sure to focus on developing your essential skills, as they are harder to find and harder to master. I hope this helps and good luck! ... View more

I would recommend you reach out to Marvin Davis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvin-davis-373a0b89/) and Robert Hawks (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hawks-gisp-49556577/). Both of them have been successful in building GIS programs at cities smaller than yours. In a nutshell, the graphic below is a good way to think about your mission. Build relationships with those in charge of meeting organizational goals. Find out from them what their challenges are. Implement sustainable GIS solutions using configurable, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software, like ArcGIS Solutions, following best practices. Be sure to document and publicize your successes (business value). ... View more